Custom Cabinetry can be designed as a display piece in and of itself, or to further showcase a memorable item, as happened with one of our recent clients from Albemarle County. Among other valuable treasures, they particularly appreciated this antique image from France dating back to the 16th century. The piece was displayed in their home on top of a glass column. They wished to showcase it within a more secure display and to gain additional shelving to display books and other items.

We worked alongside Heidi Brooks to design this eye-catching showcase. Schrocks of Walnut Creek built the custom cabinetry and our craftsman installed the pieces to create this stunning display unit. Low voltage lighting, similar to that used in museums, wired with a dimmer switch allows our clients to set the amount of light output.

This project also included finishing and upstairs room to provide a cedar closet storage room, cabinetry and shelving in their home office, two free-standing bookshelves to flank an antique desk, as well as finishing part of the basement to include a kitchenette.

One of the fascinating aspects of today’s building industry is the variety of products, materials, and ideas available to produce a building that is exactly what you dreamed of having.

Recently we built an outdoor bathroom for a local builder in Charlottesville, VA. But this is no ordinary bathroom. It is a round bathroom with a diameter of sixteen feet and stands twenty-four feet to the upper roof!

Inside is a full bath with a walk in shower, laundry room, mechanical room, and an upper loft sleeping area.

This structure has been built to support a 700 gallon water tank on the upper floor system, allowing for an optional water collection system. Thanks to ingenious design, water can be collected from the upper roof system and deposited into the water tank.

The walls were framed in eighteen different sections. To create the radius on the outside of the building, we installed radius horizontal blocks every two feet. The siding could then be fastened to the radius blocks, creating the round house you see today.

Visual proof that with enough planning and preparation, we can build it any way you want it!

One of the best things you can do during the process of having a new kitchen built is taking the time to properly plan your kitchen. The process of mentally thinking through the use of your space will take some time, but in the end, will yield a kitchen that is better suited to meet your needs.

In the kitchen industry, there are certain common parameters that we attempt to work with. It is easy to draw the “ideal” kitchen on paper where you are not limited by a wall that is load bearing and cannot be moved or a window that needs to remain in it ’s location for aesthetic reasons. Keep in mind that it is more important to work with your space and try to incorporate as many of the design parameters as possible. Keep an open mind to new suggestions and ideas that come along. The end goal is to have a kitchen that works for you.

Work Triangle:
You’ve probably heard of the term, “Work Triangle” before. It simply refers to the line that you walk between your refrigerator, sink, and stove which is often a triangular shape. The ideal is to not have less than 4’ or more than 9’ per leg of this triangle. The total distance of that triangle should be 26’ or less. The challenge is to keep the legs close enough that you don’t waste a lot of time going back and forth but not too close that your space feels cramped. This triangle is achievable with many different layouts. See the kitchen floor plan for an example.

Zone Planning:
Thinking in terms of zones in your kitchen will help you achieve greater efficiency of the use of your kitchen. A zone is simply a section of your kitchen that isdedicated to a specific use. There are 3 common zones but more can be added based on how you wish to use your space.

Storage Zone:
The storage zone is a space dedicated to dry good storage and cold storage. Keeping the pantry and refrigerator close together is the most efficient. Planning your storage zone around the entrance you use to bring your groceries into the kitchen is also helpful for achieving efficiency. After carrying those heavy bags in from the garage, it’s really nice to have a surface to place the groceries near your storage.

Washing Zone:
The washing zone includes the sink and dishwasher. Keeping it positioned as central as possible will help avoid a lot of extra steps during your cooking process. Keeping your main dish storage near the washing zone will also speed up the cleaning process after you have eaten the meal. It is important to plan for enough countertop space beside the sink. The minimum countertop space is 24” on one side and 18” on the other side.

Cooking Zone:
Give some thought to how you like to cook and plan your cooking zone around that. Storage for your main cooking pans and utensils should be incorporated into this space. Incorporating spice storage within easy reach of the cook top will make your cooking experience even more enjoyable .

Additional zones:
• Ideally the oven is close to the cooking zone. You may wish to add a baking zone – a place to keep ingredients and accessories used primarily for baking.
• An entertaining zone might be added for the dishes and other items used primarily for entertaining guests.
• A kitchen office zone could also be added where you do your menu planning and store a phone. This is also a great place to store your cookbooks.

Architectural Features:
The architectural features are what set your kitchen apart. They are the cosmetics that reflect the overall style of your house; the small touches that add distinction and beauty. These have more to do with aesthetics than function. It may be as simple as the crown detail you choose, the stone top you use as a countertop, or the furniture foot detail added to the base cabinets. It includes things like the choice of appliances, what color are the appliances and do they require custom wood panels. How the cabinet door relates to the rest of the cabinet is also a factor of the overall design.

This is the fun part of cabinetry design so use your creativity. This is also the part that begins to drive the cost up so knowing what your budget is will keep you in check when adding architectural features.